By Reporter
The government has kicked off a campaign aimed at achieving a 100 percent registration rate for the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) in the country.
According to Health Cabinet Secretary Debora Baraza, the ministry is employing a multi-sectoral approach to achieve the target in the shortest time possible, calling up stakeholders to work together.
Speaking in Garsen township of Tana River County where she witnessed the rolling out of the registration exercise in the county, the CS urged Kenyans to register with the new scheme to access free and quality services.
She said that about 15.6 million Kenyans have already registered with the new health insurance scheme.
The registration exercise noted that it has been hampered by lack of identification documents, adding that the government is addressing the challenge.
“We want to say that with partners and stakeholders, we shall ensure that there is 100 percent Health Coverage in each corner of this country,” she said.
She urged private health facilities that have not signed contracts with the Social Health Authority (SHA) in order to benefit from capitation and provide quality services to Kenyans to do so.
She also asked Health service providers in both public and private health facilities to provide world-class services, while urging political leaders to join in the campaign.
Her sentiments were echoed by women representatives from Tana River, Mandera, Isiolo, Wajir and Kiambu, who pledged to join in the campaign.
The new health insurance scheme has been criticized by some Kenyans for not providing services like the previous NHIF.
The government has however remained firm to ensure the system works for the benefit of Kenyans who have already registered with some enjoying health services in public and private hospitals across the country.
